Smoked Lobster Tails

With little effort, produce a special meal that is both elegant and delicious. Smoked Lobster Tails will not disappoint. Smoked over cherry, served with a perfectly cooked steak and some butter for dipping, this surf and turf presentation will make any meal a special occasion.

In my house, lobster is reserved for special occasions. They aren't cheap and for the novice, they may be intimidating to cook. There are plenty of barriers to the everyday home chef having the confidence to take on lobsters.

If you only enjoy them out at a fancy restaurant, the cost is much higher and an "add on" lobster tail to make your entree into a surf n turf can be very expensive. This smoked lobster tail recipe will show you how cooking lobster on your smoker is an almost foolproof way to get it right every time. All you need are simple ingredients for an amazing meal in your own backyard. It will please the taste buds of any lobster fan.

Make up some Deviled Crab at the same time for restaurant-quality results.

Ingredients

Lobster Tails: You can use fresh lobster tails or frozen lobster tails from your local grocery store. If the lobster tails are frozen, allow the lobster to thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

The hardest part of this whole recipe is preparing the lobster tails for the smoker. To smoke lobster tails the first step is to remove the shell for the smoke to permeate the meat. Removing the raw lobster meat from the inside of the shell can be challenging, so we first need to blanch the tail in order to remove the shell. A pair of sharp kitchen shears is a must.

How to Smoke Lobster Tails

Step One: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, place the lobster tails into the water and let cook for three minutes. Immediately remove the tails and rinse them under cold water. Using a pair of kitchen shears or poultry scissors, carefully cut through the bottom of the middle of the shell to the base of the tail. Peel back the shell and remove the lobster tail meat from inside the shell. Make a small slice on the top of the deshelled lobster tail to remove the intestine.

Step Two: Smoke the lobster tails. No matter what type of smoker you are using, be sure to preheat it and keep it at 200°F. This low temperature is harder to maintain, but we want to allow the lobster time to absorb the flavor without cooking it too quickly. We are shooting for approximately 60 minutes for the cooking process. Place the lobster tails directly on the grill grate in the smoker and close.

How do you know when lobster is done?

I constantly battle the temperatures that the USDA recommends for safe consumption. It will regularly produce overcooked, tough food. For lobster, I will usually cook it by sight. You are looking for firm white flesh. You can tell that the meat is not cooked yet if the flesh is translucent. If you have a good instant-read meat thermometer, I recommend cooking until the internal temperature of the lobster reaches 135°F for the best results.

Lobster Dipping Sauce

• Make a simple butter dipping sauce to highlight the natural goodness of the lobster. I didn't want to make anything that would compete with the delicate smoky flavor on the lobster. I simply microwaved a tablespoon of salted butter in a small bowl for 20 seconds and it was ready to go. If you want to make quick garlic butter, just mix in a little garlic powder and black pepper. Brush some of the butter sauce on top of the tails for a beautiful presentation.

What to serve with Smoked Lobster

Surf n Turf

• Steak - Surf and turf is a dish composed of surf (fish) and turf (meat), normally it is steak and lobster. Steak and Lobster Tail is a classic in steakhouses. Surf n turf can also apply to other dishes that contain both seafood and land animals.

Sides for Lobster

• Smoked Mac and Cheese - Smoked Mac and Cheese is a dish that is made by taking a tray of homemade macaroni and cheese and smoking it. It really kicks up the flavor. You could even make it into lobster mac and cheese by cutting up some of the tender meat and stirring it in.
• Garlic Herb Butter - Compound herb butter is made out of butter, chopped garlic cloves, and fresh herbs with a blended mixture of herbs. You can add red pepper flakes for a bit of heat. We make this ahead and just store in an airtight container.
• Sherry Cream Sauce - Try dipping these delicious lobster tails in this Lobster Ravioli Sauce Recipe.

Veggies

• Grilled Broccoli - Don't forget something green on your plate. Grilled broccoli with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice is one of our go-to sides for just about everything.
• Green Beans - Crisp air-fried green beans are a nice choice to serve with seafood.

Leftover lobster? That might not seem possible, but if you do have some, try it in this Crab Salad Recipe. Or if you are craving lobster rolls, go ahead and start with this option.

Recipe

Originally Published February 9, 2022. Revised and Republished July 11, 2025.